"HD Radio: A Closer Listen"
"Despite the promise of digital radio, uptake by both radio stations and listeners has moved at a snail's pace. Although the new standard boasts around 1,200 broadcasting converts to digital radio, that's just a fraction the more than 12,000 commercial and non-commercial stations in the U.S. The problem is that there are two major components behind the marketing of HD radio, Josh Martin, an analyst at Yankee Group, told the E-Commerce Times. Better audio clarity, although important, is difficult to convey to an audience and does not resonate unless people hear it for themselves. The second issue, he said, is multicasting. Most people feel that traditional radio either does or does not serve their needs. Adding more channels that people are not going to listen to is not a compelling reason to buy an HD radio. Like [digital] TV, where you get more channels but you still find nothing to watch, part of it is a function of people feeling the market out and trying to figure it out, Martin explained. In addition, it takes a considerable investment in infrastructure to refurbish stations and get them broadcasting with the digital radio signal, Martin pointed out. The reality of the situation is that companies realize this is a long-term play, and it takes a huge investment to get the radio stations up and running in HD format."
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/57420.html
Just as I have said, over-and-over-again - there are more than enough analog stations to fill consumers' needs !
"Despite the promise of digital radio, uptake by both radio stations and listeners has moved at a snail's pace. Although the new standard boasts around 1,200 broadcasting converts to digital radio, that's just a fraction the more than 12,000 commercial and non-commercial stations in the U.S. The problem is that there are two major components behind the marketing of HD radio, Josh Martin, an analyst at Yankee Group, told the E-Commerce Times. Better audio clarity, although important, is difficult to convey to an audience and does not resonate unless people hear it for themselves. The second issue, he said, is multicasting. Most people feel that traditional radio either does or does not serve their needs. Adding more channels that people are not going to listen to is not a compelling reason to buy an HD radio. Like [digital] TV, where you get more channels but you still find nothing to watch, part of it is a function of people feeling the market out and trying to figure it out, Martin explained. In addition, it takes a considerable investment in infrastructure to refurbish stations and get them broadcasting with the digital radio signal, Martin pointed out. The reality of the situation is that companies realize this is a long-term play, and it takes a huge investment to get the radio stations up and running in HD format."
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/57420.html
Just as I have said, over-and-over-again - there are more than enough analog stations to fill consumers' needs !